Search results for "crocodile"

This shy and secretive crocodile was described by Australian Museum curator, Gerard Krefft, after receiving a specimen from Mr R. A. Johnstone who collected the first specimen from Queensland. Unfortunately, over one hundred years passed before proper study of this species was undertaken.

This work, made by Elliot Koonutta from rope, ghost net and metal, tells the story of the Crocodile Sorcerer;

“I made that crocodile because, you know, it’s my favourite animal to draw and like do with ghost net. Because in the dreamtime our old people used to have their own pets, pet crocodile, to take them across the river and keep the river so no stranger crocodile can come in to take over the river. Or get turtle and dugong like that for the owner” – Elliot Koonutta (Pormpuraaw Art Centre) 2014

The sorcerer summons the pet crocodile to cross the river by putting the end of his spear or woomera in his armpit, and then into the water. If a crocodile smells the scent, and moves towards the person, then the crocodile belongs to him. He can then communicate to the crocodile, and it brings him food from the river.

Crocodile Spirit Man represents a man that is eaten by a crocodile; a “spirit figure” or a ghost. If a man goes hunting and is taken by a crocodile, he then haunts the place where he was taken. The spirit can bite people, annoy them and make noises, but don’t do any real harm. The spirit is only a problem until people move away from the area which is haunted;

For the sculpture, Simon used a crocodile skull and other crocodile bones from a carcass he found in the local crocodile farm. It is largely comprised of ghost net, and decorated with objects found on the local beach including shells, coral and sea fan, as well as white feathers from the corellas that inhabit the town in their hundreds.